A new day, really?
January 20, 2009
What a dichotomy! I don’t mean to sound so negative while it seems as though everyone around me is so full of hope - after all, I live in Seattle which is highly democratic. However, I had a very confusing day filled with so many emotions. While this blog posting may not have much to do about autism, you will see at the end that it actually has a whole lot to do with our cause at hand.
We have a new President, one that everyone is hopeful will bring change to the country. In the morning, everyone watched excitedly as our new President took the oath of office and also made history. At night, everyone celebrated - including very elaborate celebrations by our elected officials and with our tax dollars - just a reported mere $150 million of our tax dollars. Even if they only spent half that amount, wow!
Do you know what I was doing while everyone was celebrating? I was in a board meeting approving a bunch of job cuts. While our elected officials celebrated, real people were losing their jobs. Real people are living in the reality of this economic mess our elected officials got us into. Our elected officials are living in their political world - but I don’t think they are living in our world. While they danced the night away in their designer gowns and tuxedos, I had to go to bed at night knowing that I had just put people out of work. Somehow this seems so unfair. In what way did I contribute to our economic downfall? When I look at the details of what happened to our economy, I say a big fat “nothing”. I live within my means, I have no debt, I did not take advantage of zero down mortgages, I created jobs, I ran my organization well, I volunteered my time and contributed to society, etc, etc.
Among other things, our new President asked all of us Americans to be the change we want to see in the world, to take responsibility, and to be accountable. I have to say that I had very mixed feelings about this speech. I think President Obama gives great speeches - no doubt about it. He certainly has a way of inspiring the masses - sometimes I wonder if I missed the hypnotherapy session that everyone else seemed to enjoy. Well, we do need a President that can inspire people - yes, we do!
However, what about those of us that are already serving our country in more ways imaginable? What about those of us that have taken responsibility for our lives and the lives of our families? What about those of us who already hold ourselves accountable for our own actions? Why do we need to be told to do something we are already doing? What about you President Obama (you were afterall a Congressman the past few years)? What about you Congressman? What about you Administration? When are YOU going to take responsibility for what has happened to our country? When are YOU going to hold yourselves accountable? When are YOU going to be the change you preach to the rest of us?
President Obama, I just hope and pray that you live up to your promises to the American people. I wish you would have begun to be the change you preach on day one of your Presidency. You would have inspired me so much more by saying “no” to the establishment - saying “no” to the old ways of politics - saying “no” to the elaborate spending and pomp and circumstance - saying “no” to the blaming of others - and “doing” what you say you will do - from day one!
Let’s hope day two of your Presidency will be more productive. After all, if you were a CEO hired into a failing company, that company would not have given you a day of celebration, an elaborate party. That company would expect you to turn things around rather quickly, get to work right away. It should have been you making the tough decisions tonight, not me.
Many Americans are hurting. And I know all too well that those hurting the most are the ones in greatest need. Families of autism are among them. We have put much hope in you, Mr. President. Please do not let us down!
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